Israeli military ready to hit Gaza

Israel has authorised its military to take all necessary steps to stop rocket fire from Gaza, including a ground operation, an Israeli military official said, as Egypt worked on a truce and said Israel had agreed to delay stepping up its response.

Israel has authorised its military to take all necessary steps to stop rocket fire from Gaza, including a ground operation, an Israeli military official said, as Egypt worked on a truce and said Israel had agreed to delay stepping up its response.

The Israeli government decision fell well short of ordering tanks to roll into Gaza, and it appeared unlikely that would happen as rocket fire stopped on Tuesday.